Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza turned the tables for his side by picking up seven wickets to take control of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka at the Harare Sports Club on Wednesday. Raza recorded his career-best figures – 7/113 in international cricket.
Raza’s incredible figures were the second best for Zimbabwe in the longest format, after former leg-spinner Paul Strang who grabbed eight for 109 against New Zealand at Bulawayo in 2000.
Double-centurion in the first Test for Sri Lanka, Angelo Mathews, was the highest scorer (64) for his side and the only player to score a half-century. The openers, Dimuth Karunaratne and Oshada Fernando, also played well and added a 94-run stand to make a solid foundation.
Skipper Karunaratne got out for 44, followed by his opening partner Fernando who was sent back to the pavilion by Donald Tripano at the same score.
Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva (42) did fight back and added 84-runs for the fifth-wicket, but couldn’t help their side to cross over 300.
At the close of the third day, the hosts were 62-1 in their second innings, after they bowled out visitors for 293 and took a lead of 175 runs.
#2ndTest | Day 3 | STUMPS: @Zimcricketv 406 & 62-1 in 20.5 overs (Prince Masvaure 26*, Regis Chakabva 14*; Vishwa Fernando 1/9) and lead by 175 runs with 9 wickets in hand #ZIMvSL #TestSeries pic.twitter.com/ZZIlLz6ahx
— Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv) January 29, 2020